The study found that the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) babies born at RIMS Hospital in Imphal, Manipur, India was 6%. Key risk factors for LBW included young maternal age, primiparity, lack of antenatal care, low socioeconomic status, short inter-pregnancy interval, maternal underweight and anemia. Proper antenatal care, improved nutrition and socioeconomic conditions, and anemia management could help reduce the incidence of LBW.

1. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS)
e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 14, Issue 11 Ver. IX (Nov. 2015), PP 01-03
www.iosrjournals.org
DOI: 10.9790/0853-141190103 www.iosrjournals.org 1 | Page
Assessment Of factors associated with low birth weight babies
born in RIMS hospital
1.
K.Sunilbala, 2.
Animesh Chaudhuri, 3.
Dipankar De, 4.
Kh.Ibochouba Singh.
1-Assistant Professor, 2.3.-PG trainees, 4-Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, RIMS, Imphal.
Abstract:
Background: Low birth weight is important risk factors for determining the newborn health and survival. It is
associated with increase morbidity and mortality. LBW babies are associated with multiple risk factors and
reductions of these factors are associated with decrease incidence of LBW babies. Aims of the study: To
estimate the prevalence and identify the factors associated with LBW babies. Material and methods: The cross-
sectional study was carried out in all the newborns with birth weight less than 2500 g during the period from
October, 2011 to September, 2013. Results: The prevalence of LBW was 6% and the incidence of LBW was high
among the young mothers, in 1st
pregnancy and among the un-booked cases. Anaemia was a significant risk
factor for LBW. Conclusion: Findings of the present study emphasizes the need for improvement of
socioeconomic status, proper antenatal care, rest and nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and
encouragement to raise literacy rate, proper management of anaemia will surely decrease the prevalence of
LBW.
Key words: Low birth weight babies, LBW, Anaemia.
1.Introduction
Globally 18 million infants are born with low birth weight (LBW) every year. The World Health
Organization adopted in 1950, the figure of less than 2500 g (5 pound 8 ounces) as a universal definition of low
birth weight. [1]
LBW is an important predictor of new-born health and survival and is associated with higher risk
of infant and childhood mortality, apart from the physical and mental sequelae in the individual.[2]
The reduction
of low birth weight also forms an important contribution to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for
reducing child mortality. The factors associated with LBW are multiple and interrelated to mother, placenta and
foetus. [3]
2.Aims and Objectives:
To estimate the prevalence and identify the factors associated with LBW.
3.Materials And Methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Regional Institute of Medical sciences, Imphal
amongst all the new-borns with birth weight less than 2500 g and their mothers during the period from October,
2011 to September, 2013. The data was collected by questionnaire method followed by the thorough clinical
examination and anthropometric measurements of new-born and mother.
4.Results
The total number of live births in RIMS hospital for the period of October, 2011 to September, 2013
was found to be 23031. Out of which 1382 babies were LBW and the incidence of LBW is 6%.
In the present study the highest incidence of LBW was found in birth weight range of 2001- 2500 g consisting
of 73.73% of the cases. The mean birth weight of all LBW was 2267 g. The prevailing antenatal registration was
found to be 92%.
Table 1: Association between status of registration of pregnant women and birth weight status of their
newborn
Factors Level of factors Low birth weight –
n (%), (N= 1382)
Birth weight - ≥ 2500 g –
n (%), (N= 21649)
Statistical Test*
Registration
of Mother
Booked 512(2.42) 20599(97.6) X²= 5731.35
D.f=1,P= 0.000Un-booked 870(45.31) 1050(54.7)
Time
of Registration
1st
Trim. 102(1.11) 9021(98.89) X² =227.25
D.f=1,P=0.0002nd
Trim. 189(2.36) 7788(97.64)
3rd
Trim. 221(5.50) 3790(94.45)
No.
of Antenatal visits
<2 302(20.53) 1169(97.47) X²=2199.81
D.f=1 P=0.0002-4 160(1.34) 11744(98.66)
≥5 50(0.64) 7686(99.36)

2. Assessment Of factors associated with low birth weight babies born in RIMS hospital
DOI: 10.9790/0853-141190103 www.iosrjournals.org 2 | Page
*Chi-square test
The table 1 shows that 45.3% of the un-booked cases and 2.4% of the booked cases delivered low birth
weight babies. This difference was found to be statistically highly significant. Similarly the birth weight of new
born was significantly influenced by the number of antenatal visits.
The proportion of LBW was more among the mothers who are studied primary school (47.77%) and
the risk of LBW reduces linearly as the education status improved with an overall reduction by 97.87% among
the mothers who were studied up to graduate level. The association between mother's education and birth weight
was statistically highly significant (P < 0.000).
Mothers who belonged to low income group had more number of LBW in comparison to higher
income group. This difference was found to be statistically highly significant.
Table 2: Relation of socioeconomic factors with LBW
Factors Level of factors Low birth weight –
n (%), (N= 1382)
Birth weight - ≥ 2500 g
n (%), (N= 21649)
Statistical Test
Per-capita Income ≤2000 967(41.97) 1337(58.03) X²=6039.55,D.f=2,P=0.000
2000-7000 276(5.99) 4330(94.01)
≥7000 139(0.86) 15982(99.14)
Place of residence Urban 746(3.99) 17909(96.01) X²=695.56D.f=1,P=0.000
Rural 636(14.53) 3740(85.47)
Religion Hindu 748(5.41) 13070(94.59) X²=24.13,D.f=2, P=0.000
Muslim 289(7.37) 3627(92.63)
Christian 345(6.51) 4952(93.49)
Type of family Nuclear 622(5.67) 10343(94.33) X²=3.88,D.f=1,P=0.049
Joint 760(6.29) 11306(93.71)
The mother’s responses to their occupational status revealed that the great majority (59.04%) were
housewives and 27.34% were working in government or private sectors, while the remaining 13.62% were
engaged in different daily labour activities delivered more number of LBW. The pre-dominant religion of the
study population was found to be Hindu (59.99%) followed by Christian (23%) while the rest (17.01%) were
Muslim. Proportion of LBW was more for Muslim mothers (7.37%) and it was found statistically significant (P-
value <0.000). The risk of delivering LBW was found to be significantly higher in those mothers who were
residing in rural areas than those living in urban areas. Majority of mothers (81%) were living in urban areas and
52.39% of the mothers belonged to joint families. It was observed that LBW was higher in mothers who
belonged to joint families. This difference was found to be statistically highly significant.
Table 3: Relationship between Parity, Gestational weight, Inter pregnancy interval with LBW
Factors Level of factors Low birth weight -n (%),
(N= 1382)
Birth weight - ≥ 2500 g
n (%), (N= 21649)
Statistical Test
Parity 1 987(10.71) 8225(89.29) X²=698.55,D.f=3,P=0.000
2 345(4.68) 7018(95.32)
3 31(0.65) 4734(99.34)
≥4 19(1.12) 1672(98.88)
Gestational Weight
(Kg)
<45 733(12.44) 5158(87.56) X²=599.25,D.f=2,P=0.000
45-55 594(4.10) 13870(95.9)
≥56 55(2.05) 2621(97.95)
Inter pregnancy
interval (Month)
<12 773(18.64) 3372(81.36) X²=1566.05 D.f=2 P=0.000
12-48 386(5.98) 6062(94.02)
>48 223(1.79) 12215(98.21)
Table 3 depicts that the LBW rate was high for parity one i.e. 10.71% when compared to parity two
(4.68%) and parity three and above (1.77%). The association was found to be highly significant (p< 0.000). The
maximum number of LBW (12.44%) was delivered by mothers whose gestational weight at third trimester was
< 45 Kg. The association between gestational weight and LBW found to be statistically significant (p< 0.000).
In present study all mothers (booked) were screened for haemoglobin (Hb) level, 40% of the mothers in
this study were anaemic, 24% of the mothers who’s Hb < 7gm% delivered LBW. A statistically significant
relationship was found between the haemoglobin concentration and birth weight. Mother who had a bad
obstetric history has delivered more number of LBW.

3. Assessment Of factors associated with low birth weight babies born in RIMS hospital
DOI: 10.9790/0853-141190103 www.iosrjournals.org 3 | Page
Fig.1: Relationship between maternal education and LBW
5.Discussion
The present hospital based cross sectional study shows the incidence of LBW 6%. National Family
Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) data shows that the prevalence of low birth weight babies in India as a whole and
Manipurare 21.5% and 13.1% respectively. [4]
The Present study reports low proportions of LBW amongst better educated, elderly women having
higher family income as in NFHS-3.[8]
Percentages of LBW were obtained to be maximum for mothers educated
up to 5th
level (47.77%), low per capita income up to Rs. 2000 (41.97%), which were in agreement with
respective prevalence rates of 26.5% and 25.4% reported in NFHS-3 surveys.[4]
Maternal occupation was found
to be significant risk factor for delivering LBW. The incidence of LBW was high among young mothers of age
20 years and it was found to be significantly higher in primiparas. Similar observations were also reported by
NFHS-3, [4]
Anand et al, [5]
Kamaladoss et al. [6]
More number of LBW were born to mothers whose inter
pregnancy interval was < 12 months. Mothers shorter than 150 cm of height delivered a higher proportion of
LBW.
The present study also revealed that anaemia was a risk factor for LBW (<7gm/dl)which was comparable to the
findings of study by Joshi et al [7]
and Mavalankar et al.[8]
Similarly mothers with bad obstetric history (BOH) delivered more
number of LBW than mothers with no BOH which was in accordance with other studies. [9]
The proportion of LBW was higher (45.31%) among the un-booked mothers when compared with (2.42%) the
mother who had regular ANC check-up. Joshi et al [7]
and Idris et al [10]
also published the similar findings in their study
where the incidence of LBW was 57% and 61.76% in mothers who did not receive any antenatal care.
6.Conclusion
The prevalence of LBW in the present study was found to be very low (6%) as compared to the
national average of 21.5% which may be attributable to various factors like as it was hospital based study,
catchment area mostly urban, higher per capita income, 60% of mothers were having Hb >11 gm% and they
were availing the antenatal services. So it may not reflect the real scenario.
Thus findings of the present study emphasizes the need for improvement of socioeconomic status, proper
antenatal care, rest and nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and encouragement to raise literacy rate, proper
management of anaemia will surely decrease the prevalence of LBW.
7.Reference
[1]. World Health Organization. The incidence of low birth weight: A critical review of available information. World Health Stat Q
1980; 52; 593-625.
[2]. Wilcox AJ, Skaeven R. Birth weight and perinatal mortality: The effect of gestational age. Am J Public Health 1992; 82: 378-83.
[3]. Singh G, Chouhan R, Sidhu K. Maternal Factors for Low Birth Weight Babies. Armed Forces Med J India 2009; 65(1): 10-12.
[4]. National Family Health Survey -3 (NFHS -3), 2005-06: India: Volume-1. Mumbai: IIPS. p. 225-26.
[5]. Anand K, GargBs. A study of factors affecting LBW. Indian Journal of Community Med. Vol.25, No. 2(2000-04-2000-06).
[6]. Kamaladoss T, Abel R, Sampathkumar V. Epidemiological correlates of low birth weight in rural Tamil Nadu. Ind J Paed 1992; 59:
209-304.
[7]. Joshi HS, Subba SH, Dabral SB, et al. Risk factors associated with low birth weight in newborns. Indian Journal of Community
Medicine. Vol. 30, No. 4 (2005-10-2005-12).
[8]. Mavalankar DV, Gray RH, Trivedi CR: Risk factors for pre-term and term low birth weight in Ahmedabad. Int. Jr. Epidem. 1992;
21: 263-72.
[9]. Agarwal K, Agarwal A, Agrawal V K, et al. Prevalence and determinants of "low birth weight" among institutional deliveries. Ann
Nigerian Med 2011; 5: 48-52.
[10]. Idris MZ, Gupta A, Mohan U, Srivastava AK, et al. Maternal Health and Low Birth Weight Among Institutional Deliveries. Indian
J Com Med 2000; 25(4):156-60.